Posted by Jim Jones and the rest of Dipset participated in an epic Verzuz battle against The LOX earlier this month. Held at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater in New York City, the packed event provided an evening of powerful nostalgia as both veteran groups ran through their biggest hits.
But it looks like Jones paid for it with his health. According to a recent Instagram video, the 45-year-old rapper previously tested positive for COVID-19 and is urging everyone to take the pandemic seriously.
“I was contemplating whether I should do this or keep my business to myself, but I think it’s more important for me to do this,” he said. “I urge everybody to stay safe out there. COVID is real. I was runnin’ ’round here thinking I was Superman and COVID knocked the socks off Superman.
“So I urge and encourage everybody to please continue to mask up, please continue with hand sanitizer, social distance as much as you can, try to stay away from as many packed and crowded places. This shit is no joke. I really felt it and I don’t want nobody to feel like how I felt.”
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Jim Jones also further implored people to stay cautious in the caption, adding, “Superman is no match for covid please take care of urself out here mask up hand sanitizer keep tht wit u and say a prayer cause this shit is like a stray bullet it don’t care who it hits. I’m grateful for all those who called to check up on me. I’m negative and it’s time to get back Healthy. God is good.”
Multiple Hip Hop artists have already lost their lives to COVID-19, including Fred The Godson who passed away in April 2020 and New Orleans DJ Black N Mild who died in April. Most recently, Bay Area Hip Hop staple Zumbi of the duo Zion I died on Friday (August 13) shortly after testing positive for COVID-19, however his death is now under investigation by the Berkeley police.
Fred The Godson Passes Away After Battling COVID-19
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Zumbi allegedly got into a physical altercation while hospitalized as he recovered from COVID-19. Lt. Melanie Turner said police responded to calls at 5:16 a.m. local time from patients and staff at the hospital about a patient involved in a physical altercation with nurses and security officers, who reportedly had him pinned down on the ground.
DJ True Justice, who routinely toured with Zion I and had been friends with Zumbi for over 25 years, originally stated he suffered a severe asthma attack while at Alta Bates Hospital recovering from COVID-19, but the staff was unable to revive him.
Reports now say officers arrived at the scene and “started handcuffing the involved person and determined that he needed immediate medical assistance.” Police began lifesaving measures until Alta Bates staff were able to assist, but “unfortunately and sadly he was pronounced deceased on the scene.” While he tested positive for COVID-19 following a July 24 show in Idaho and was seemingly on the mend, the most recent development has caused everything into question.
COVID-19 cases have surged across the United States as the Delta variant makes its way across the population. But many people are still skeptical of the vaccine or are completely anti-vaccination altogether.